Key facts
- Alert
- Flash Flood Warning (severe)
- Issued by
- National Weather Service, Albuquerque NM
- Areas
- Lincoln, NM
- Places
- Hondo, Picacho, and Tinnie
- In effect
- until 8:15 PM MDT, Oct 28, 2026
- Detection
- Radar indicated
What the National Weather Service says
“Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads.”
NWS Albuquerque NM, Flash Flood Warning, 5:33 PM MDT Oct 28, 2026 · official alert
“Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.”
NWS Albuquerque NM, Flash Flood Warning, 5:33 PM MDT Oct 28, 2026 · official alert
“Do not attempt to cross flooded roads. Find an alternate route.”
NWS Albuquerque NM, Flash Flood Warning, 5:33 PM MDT Oct 28, 2026 · official alert
What to do
Stay off flooded roads. If you come to water over the road, turn around and find another route. The National Weather Service says most flood deaths happen in vehicles.
Be extra careful near low water crossings and arroyos. Heavy rain nearby or farther upstream can create sudden, dangerous flows. Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down, and 1 foot can sweep a vehicle away.
If you are near small creeks, streams, underpasses or other low-lying areas, move to higher ground. Do not drive around barricades. Check for updates from the National Weather Service until the warning ends.
Context
FEMA flood-insurance records show 269 claims in Lincoln County between 1978 and 2025, as of September 9, 2026. That count covers only insured properties, so it likely understates total flood losses.
FEMA has made several disaster declarations for Lincoln County. The most recent is declaration 4886, issued July 22, 2025, for severe storms, flooding and landslides. Earlier declarations include fire and flooding events in 2024 and 2022.
Updates
- NWS Albuquerque NM issued the flash flood warning until 8:15 PM MDT.
History here
Lincoln County: 269 flood insurance claims in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program records since 1978, most recent 2025.
Lincoln County: recent federal disaster declarations
- DR-4886 (2025): severe storms, flooding, and landslides
- DR-4795 (2024): south fork fire, salt fire, and flooding
- DR-4652 (2022): wildfires, straight-line winds, flooding, mudflows, and debris flows
- DR-4199 (2014): severe storms and flooding
- DR-4197 (2014): severe storms and flooding
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Questions
- Is there a flash flood warning in Lincoln County, New Mexico?
- Yes. The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has a Flash Flood Warning in effect for southeastern Lincoln County until 8:15 PM MDT on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
- Which places are affected by the warning?
- The National Weather Service names Hondo, Picacho and Tinnie. Streams and drainages listed include Rio Hondo, Twin Butte Canyon, Chavez Canyon, Rio Bonito and Casey Canyon.
- How much rain has fallen and how much more is possible?
- At 5:33 PM MDT, the National Weather Service said between 1 and 2 inches of rain had fallen in the warned area. Another 0.25 to 0.75 inches is possible, and flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.
Sources
- NWS Albuquerque NM: Flash Flood Warning, Oct 28, 2026 weather.gov
- FEMA OpenFEMA: NFIP claims and disaster declarations fema.gov
How this page is made. The Herebeat Hazard Desk builds event pages from official U.S. government data (National Weather Service, USGS, FEMA). The text is written with AI from that data; every number and quote is checked against the official source automatically before publishing, and the page is updated when the agency updates the event. The official source is always the reference. Spotted a mistake? info@herebeat.app. About the Hazard Desk.